Our friend and colleague Robin Ritzema, who has died suddenly after a short illness aged 65, made major contributions as a senior civil servant to education and science policy in the UK and overseas. He relished travel and generously shared with family and friends his enthusiasms for mountains, Wagner, church buildings, gardening and sport – the latter both as a spectator and participant.
Robin was born in London, the younger son of Frances (nee Lyons) and Palmer Ritzema. His father was a conscientious objector during the second world war who later worked in the London newsroom of the BBC. To this background Robin may have owed his clear diction, the thoughtfulness that lay behind a seemingly tough exterior and the determination to act on his beliefs.
Educated at Eastbourne college and St Catharine's College, Cambridge, where he studied English, he acquired lifelong interests in literary criticism, drama, books and poetry. After a diploma of education, with teaching practice at an unruly London comprehensive school, he entered the civil service fast stream. Postings in the Department of Education and Science, Cabinet Office and Office of Science and Technology followed.
He played a key role in establishing the Japanese-initiated Human Frontier Science Program for international cooperation in biological research, and represented the UK's position for around five years at the Cern atomic research establishment in Switzerland. Always thoroughly briefed himself, he was skilful at briefing others. He probably enjoyed his international work most, and with his marked negotiating and diplomatic skills, he vigorously defended UK interests in Brussels in his science and ICT leadership work.
Next he took charge of successive governments' policies to bring schools into the age of the internet. He brought brain power and utter determination to breaking the mould of underfunding and transforming IT in schools. In 2000 he left the civil service, having perhaps been too much of a leader to feel entirely comfortable there. His many activities during retirement included treks in the Himalayas to raise funds for education in Nepal.
On first encounter, Robin could seem intimidating, yet beneath his vibrant energy was a thoughtful and considerate person who always ensured that his companions were well briefed when accompanying him to musical events, and were challenged, but not overstretched, on walks with him in the mountains or on the South Downs near his home in Eastbourne. Work and recreation with so inspirational and supportive a colleague and friend was a great privilege. He was a big character in every way.
His wife Jill, whom he married in 1970, and their children, Mark and Ruth, survive him.